(iv) enactment of agreed amendments to the Electoral Act by September 2011 was done but late with
necessary changes to be made still outstanding . This now duplicates activity (i) under E. Electoral
Reform [see comment under that head].
(v) appointment of Anti-Corruption Commission by September 2011 was done . There was an
existing Anti-Corruption Commission, which was replaced with new commissioners within the
deadline.
Parts of the GPA Election Roadmap complied with.
A. Sanctions
This part of the Roadmap clearly indicated three points of focus: the reactivation of the Inclusive
Government’s Re-Engagement Committee, lobbying for the removal of sanctions by the ReEngagement Committee and the implementation of these resolutions and sanctions by SADC
(These resolutions called for the lifting of “Western sanctions” on Zimbabwe and for SADC leaders
to engage the international community on the sanctions issue). Neither the Roadmap, nor the
corresponding article of the GPA, targeted the actual lifting of sanctions, obviously in recognition of
the fact that neither the Inclusive Government nor SADC could compel foreign sovereign states to
lift them (although ZANU-PF has always described the sanctions as “illegal” because they are not
imposed by the United Nations) Those applying sanctions insist that they do so in the exercise of their
sovereign rights to regulate foreign trade and entry into their territory.
In July 2012, the EU suspended appropriate measures against Zimbabwe under article 96 of the
Cotonou agreement although the same are still valid22. On 25 March 2013, the EU subsequently
lifted most of its restrictive measures against Zimbabwe following the constitutional referendum23.
Constitution
The Road Map called for the remaining seven stages of the constitution-making process described
in the GPA, which in July 2011 had not been done, to be expedited. All of the stages were
implemented, at the cost of being behind schedule and engendering intense contestation.
Accountability
The Government’s commitments to accountability were most revealed in its attitude towards
investigations of human rights violations. On 16 May 2013 the dormant Human Rights Commission
pleaded with legislators to resource the institution to enable it to execute its mandate of promoting
and protecting human rights.
ZHRC chairperson Commissioner Jacob Mudenda disclosed that the Commission was saddled with
a lot of challenges that Parliament could help resolve through imploring the government to channel
financial resources towards making it fully operational. Commissioner Mudenda appeared before
the Senate Thematic Committee on Human Rights chaired by Senator Misheck Marava, where
he gave oral evidence on the operations of the Commission.The ZHRC Chairperson also urged
Parliamentarians to amend some sections of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC)
Act, which he reasoned interfered with the Commissioners’ independence and impartiality. He said
amendments to the ZHRC Act were pertinent to make the Commission more independent of the
government particularly in the investigation of violated or alleged violated human rights as well as
being solely accountable for its finances as a corporate body.
Commissioner Mudenda told the Senate Thematic Committee on Human Rights that ZHRC had
received some financial assistance from the Danish Institute for Human Rights (Danida) which would
be applied towards capacity building workshops, scheduled for 22 and 23 May 2013, provincial
stakeholder meetings focused on addressing human rights in relation to elections and to produce
information, education and communication materials.
22 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/131955.pdf
23 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/cfsp/136501.pdf
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